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Wondering how The beautiful new urns on your deck or patio were a sight to behold this summer. Overflowing with brightly colored flowers, they brought you pleasure all season. But now that the colder weather is setting in, do you need to unplant them and store them out of sight where no one can enjoy them? “The answer is no,” says Peter C. Cilio of Campania International Inc., manufacturers of fine garden accessories. “Bring your containers, birdbaths, statuary, and fountains indoors to use as accent pieces during the holidays and winter months.” With more than 20 years in the garden …

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Wondering how Ontario’s new pesticide ban will affect your lawn and garden when it goes into effect next spring? Planning is the key — from selecting plant varieties to their location, sun and shade requirements to how much water they need. Often, a few simple changes can help your lawn and garden grow beautifully, without pesticides. Here are a few tips from Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment. Healthy soil is the first step to making your garden grow. Adding compost to your soil, mulching garden beds, and fertilizing your lawn in the fall with natural or organic fertilizers will help …

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Let’s face it — February, March and April can be gray and dreary months. You’re more than ready for spring to begin, but Mother Nature is on a different schedule. But you can jump start the season of growth early and bring it inside where you can enjoy it through those last moments of winter. Stale, polluted air happens frequently when homes are closed up for the winter months. But houseplants help to lighten the mood and purify the air. A NASA study found that houseplants remove up to 87 percent of toxic indoor air inside a sealed chamber within …

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Do you want gorgeous, giant blooms with lots of “boom color” right up until fall’s first frost? Would you like bold blossoms of color cascading from hanging baskets, decorating garden beds, and sizzling around a trellis? This season you can have it all by planting your own “show-stopper” right in your own backyard with Sun Parasol Crimson Mandevilla. In the hottest new color from the Paris runway, Sun Parasol Crimson is being hailed as a “must-have” in the garden for its easy care and big reward of color. The crimson-red, velvety bell-shaped blooms cover the generous trailing vines, turning your …

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Rose fertilizer is relatively inexpensive and can be created at home. This ensures that the gardener knows exactly what is going into their plants, which means they will have healthier plants with bigger blooms. Creating homemade rose fertilizer is not too difficult and can save quite a bit of money in the long run if this fertilizer blend is used on multiple types of plants. If you want to be an eco-friendly gardener, then creating your own fertilizer is a great way to cut down on the waste that we produce. As well as being sustainable, making your own fertilizer …

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The next time you’re at the nursery, or browsing for seeds online, be sure to check out where you are on the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, which divides North America into 11 separate zones. Each zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone. When you see a “hardiness zone” in a catalog or plant description, it’s most likely referring to this USDA map. To find your USDA Hardiness Zone, enter your zip code here. You’ll also find a regional report, public gardens in your zip code, plants in your zone, and local events of interest. I’m in …

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(ARA) – Nothing says warm weather quite like backyard barbecues and pool parties. But if your outdoor living space doesn’t quite make the grade, you might consider building a dream deck with your own two hands. Do-it-yourselfers not only save money in labor costs, but they also reap the pride and satisfaction of improving and adding value to their homes. “If you’re going to put the time and effort into building an outdoor living space, it’s crucial to use high-quality materials that will provide a return on investment and boost your home’s value,” says Adam Zambanini, vice president of marketing …

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(NC)—Spring is a time of renewal. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians mark this rite of passage every year by raking, pruning, and planting to make their gardens beautiful. Yet for the more than four million Canadians living with arthritis, the bending, stretching, and lifting that gardening entails can seem daunting. Gardening is actually an excellent form of exercise that helps maintain strength and mobility without putting additional stress on your joints. The Arthritis Society offers the following tips for smart, safe gardening: • Always be sure to stretch and warm-up before working in the garden. This will help reduce stiffness …

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(ARA) – More homeowners want their outdoor space to truly be an extension of their house and are taking steps to create an inviting area to relax, play and host guests. If you want to update your deck or patio for warm weather entertaining, you don’t have to spend a lot of time or money. You can easily refresh the items you already have and add new stylish elements by keeping some top trends and design ideas in mind. Consider these tips from the design experts at Lowe’s to help transform your space into a welcoming outdoor oasis. With just …

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